German Minister of Family Affairs Karin Prien Urges Additional Funding for Child Abuse Victims
In a recent address to the German Bundestag, Minister of Family Affairs Karin Prien emphasized the need for increased financial support for victims of child abuse. The CDU politician emphasized that without additional funding in the upcoming budget, the necessary improvements for the affected individuals will not be achieved. Prien has been actively seeking support from the members of the German Bundestag and will be engaging in targeted discussions with the Independent Commissioner Kerstin Claus and the Betroffenenrat in the coming weeks.
The urgency of the situation stems from the recent halt of the so-called Ergänzende Hilfesystem (EHS), a support system providing financial aid for therapy, counseling and medical services to those who have suffered from sexual abuse in their childhood or youth. The halt, effective as of March 19, is a result of the current government’s proposed budget not providing sufficient funds for the system’s continuation.
The Minister of Family Affairs acknowledged the difficulties of the situation, stating, “It is hard and painful, but the system in its current form cannot be continued. The Federal Audit Office has set a clear limit. Now is the moment to take responsibility and create new, legally secure ways that will help in the long term and adequately account for the needs of the affected individuals.”
The Federal Audit Office had previously criticized the financial management of the system, demanding its closure and the allocation of the necessary funds. Prien aims to achieve a new, reformed system by January 1, 2026, but acknowledges that a reliable and just system cannot be created overnight, emphasizing the complexity of the issue and the need for a long-term approach. To date, 35,578 victims have submitted applications, with approximately 165.2 million euros in disbursements.